I got that email. I hope they don't keep changing things up. When you start dividing up by ability, you are asking for a little sandbagging. INT divides by ability and we love INT, but WWA was different and we liked that difference.

The reason is they need more participation. When you look at the numbers for a nationals it is really pretty low. Even waterski tournaments have tons more participation at nationals. It may not be the best option but it is an option.

What is missing is any sort of local organized events that would qualify riders for a nationals (non pro). Nationals being an open field format takes away any accomplishment one may fell by going to nationals. There have been divisions where only 3 or 2 have registered so all people who came also podiumed.

If you had to qualify and not everyone could qualify then I think it would make going to nationals a lot more exciting. Even if you can't compete with the top 3 or so you would feel you accomplished something by qualifying. The problem with all this is there is no national body that has shown the capability to do this.

INT has a qualifying but that is for skills based not for the top riders in each age division and therefor the best riders in the country are not in INT. When you do qualify for INT it makes you feel like you earned something. Trouble is lately that so few people want to go to Bakersfield they take about anyone and so it loses its feel that you accomplished something by going. I remember when only the winners of state would qualify and it really meant something to go.

I think the pieces are there between USAWaterski, The WWA and INT to develop the sport. My personal feelings are the egos of each one will never allow it to happen. They all want to be in charge and not give up anything, especially power.

Roger, to be honest where does USA Waterski fit in anymore in terms of wakeboarding?

At the WWC events if they do not have at least 6 in a division the riders have to go up a division. Tough on them but do you really want to win if you are the only one competing? It seems ridiculous to be honest. I think what the WWA are doing is a good thing. It will probably get kids to compete who otherwise would not have for fear of being embarrassed.

Nationals and Worlds are tournaments designed to showcase the best riders around the country. I think Nationals and Worlds should both keep single divisions based on age, otherwise it's just another grass root wakeboard competition. Sorry for the criticism, but boys only ride in two tournaments a year anyways. If you aren't getting podium in those tournaments you probably aren't ready for Jr. Men's. I also don't see why people would want to travel to a national tournament if they weren't planning on eventually graduating to a higher division. Local tournaments are the places you want to be if you want to divide classes by skill level.

Is this the WWA or INT? I fore see a whole can of worms being opened and people (World Pub) turning into Police on making sure kids are in the right division. If you can throw 1 or 2 inverts can you not throw them and ride the beginner division? Who is going to monitor this? I dont agree but if it groes the sport.... maybe

USAWaterski- They still have a "national tournament" without much participation but the open and Jr Men's winner is invited to masters. They are the US body of the IWSF which has a world tournament every 2 years and sanctions the world cup.

Roger, that's USAWakeboard, who is affiliated (under the same umbrella) as USAWaterski. I think you do bring up a great point though, Waterski Nationals (which you must qualify for) is much larger than Wakeboard natties (WWA), and attracts amateur skiers from throughout the nation year after year. This is probably the only event left where skiing is bigger than wakeboarding. It takes what you bring up, a governing body big and strong enough to combine local and grassroots tourneys, and have some sort of qualification for the nation's showcase of talent.

I see they have dumped the winners of the European Championships as well.Any ties between IWSF and WWA seem to have been severed. Roger, just as a point of interest the Pro Womens side of the World cup is dismal at best.The podium is practically sorted before it even starts.